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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1977)
4 a. len Natural gas crisis We see the world through Black eyes Not the whole story The notion has just seen "Roots", the story of Alex Holey's family from capture m Africa to "Freedom" in the post Civil War US. The show, seen by the largest television audience in the history of the industry, is being hailed by Blacks and whites a! ike as a great educational experience. ft probably was an education — but it is difficult to believe os we talk to Black and white viewers, that so little is known about the ravages of slavery. It certainly is a graphic example of the rewriting of history to suit the political needs of a nation — wnen that nation's overriding social, economic and reli gious problem for halt of its existence is all but fix gotten. Even harder to accept is the discussion we hear omong whites on the rodio tolk shows - reminding us that Blocks participated in the slave steal ina and comparing the slavery imposed on Blacks in this country with slavery the world Over - including the current working class "wage slaves". It is true that slavery has existed throughout the oges, but the slavery practiced by the Arabs and Africans, and even by the British, French and Spanish in the New World, did not strip humanity from the slave. Slaves were still humon beings with a right to live their lives, to have families, homes, ideas and souls. Only their labor was owned by the master. Only m the US was the slave not a human being but an animal to be bought, sold ond breeded like cattle — to be denied family, religion or education. The show "Roots" did touch on some of the inhumanities with references to slave breeding, to the rape by the master, to the sale of Kizzie for her misdeeds. But the horrors of the children on the auction block, the whip the hard, cruel work of the field hands was absent. There was some brutality in response to misbehavior of the slaves, but overall the Haley family's owners were "good masters". There was little in the show to demonstrate the extreme brutality and oppression of the slave system and its continuing influence on this nation ond its citizens. We con assume that Holey's book is factual and that it accurately traces his family history — an accomplishment that was previously thought impos sible. The Holey family was extro-ordinorily fortun ate in that the family was allowed to remain together, that they found freedom early and were able to acquire property and education. Their good fortune and Haley's tenancity in giving his talents, time and effort to find his roots cannot erase the fact that African slaves were brutalized and oppressed to the degree that few aspects of their culture survive. The writing of "Roots" can be recorded as a maior accomplishment; it con be pointed to with the pride of heritage But it was never intended to erase the hixrors of slavery. Keep the money The State of Oregon has discovered a $160 million surplus, the result of collecting more income tax than necessory last year. Now the problem is what to do with the money - give it back or spend it. The hue and cry is being raised that the taxpayers were "overcharged" and the money must be returned to its rightful owners. The state is facing a drought; who knows how long the water shortage will effect the economy? In spite of predictions of improvements in the employment picture, many Oregonians will remain out of work for many months to come. We were recently informed that services to the elderly in their own homes would hove to be discontinued, forcing these people into homes for the oged - because of no money. Every day we hear about children and odults who are denied medical and mental health core — because of no money. We hear about children sent to Mociaren and Hillcrest because thre was no money to help them before their problems became so severe. Continuously the same answer to all our problems — no money! Surely this $160 million would be better spent trying to meet some of the people's needs rather than sending a few pennies to each of us. His peers? A jury of his peers. This phrase has strange connotations when we reolize that in Multnomah County a Block defendant is rarely |udged by a jury of hts peers. The Multnomah County District Attor ney's office still routinely bars Black jurors from the juries hearing cases involving Block defendants. Arrests of Blocks in Oregon make up 3.5 per cent of the total, while Blacks ore 18.5 per cent of the population of Oregon State Penitentiary. There must be a reason for this discrepancy — white jurors, incompetent attorneys, overzealous DAs? Still no justice here. sad available gas profitable, at ev jobo aro threat Surely. Cnpfoy News S a o ies "G o to b o d . ’ tb op eb b e w w a d the mayor of B to evilb . La. T h a i turo a * IS below at C lnrjasati. Ohio; 7 Philadelphia. Pa. Schools wore rioaed io Ohio. Oklahoma sod Florida. Tbs w in ter of 1*78-77 is a vary cold w inter l a d a s i Ford. Chrysfor sad American Motors Hosed plants in Ohio, Michigan and Now Y o rk «sr lack o f power. U S. Steal Corp, and Joraa 6 Laughlin Stool Co. wore Pennsylvania's L t.G o v. Ernot t Kline reported mass care centers are being set up in case natural gas supplies run so low th at rssidsotisl w a rs are cut off. W ithout a doubt, the eeorgy crisis is w ith us w eather feels all tbs more h itte r because it follows th ree or four w inters n unusually mild. M any of e th e r to stay mild never to command Not so. The new year has greeted w «rith workers off w ork, students out of school and lo w of and expected the and the energy eri In Taxes, which produces i n» latoa I'v e heard k od intricate tony law yer to k takoa a w the mora. 1 dlsigroi». I t te h w an ■ o f w hat you stand to lo w - o r gain. Only tona do wo make tos offert «o understood too prohfom. w- Ir a a p a of «o itself to i of w w ho are now natural gas. by the cold «rill quickly odd M «O nd the ■ toan » reset of toe nation s aupphoo. th e objection to federal p ric e setting is very strong. S tate legislation to being considered which would lim it the amount of g w shipped out of Texas. M any Texans are outraged t b i t they pay toe intrastate pries of $2 par 1,000 cubic foot for natural g w w hile customers io eth er states p a y s maximum of 62 cents per 1.000 cubic foot for Texas gas. They out th a t the state's abundant g w re being rapidly depleted and io 10 years w ill bo gone. They predict • between the ■ (w ithin one state) •1 . Moot certainly «re «rill question or not natural g w w w hold off O ra- oarket to p rale, gr ass to lift th e present pc This «rill involve able «reib and shut-in oust be mads. N ot only must ■ energy but regulation must «re coni hnmmt a r t b— tod bo such ly and the needs o f industry and business are met. and at an equitable price. The issue cannot bo sidestepped much 1 A Í Florida's citrus crop. U tlih ty throughout too Eastern sad states have had to curtail natural g w D ifferen t form our problems «rith oil. tbs supply of natural g w is prim arily a Canada, which currently U nited States w ith 4 p a ra supplies, b no longer «rilling to continue doing so. O ther importa «rould. of necessity, ho in liquid form. Liquefied natural g w b costly, difficult to ship and dangerous to handle. Under these circumstances, the choices available to us in the toe» of incroaoori demand are natural g w reserves w ithin the United States a r conversion to other fueb. generally oil. The icy rivera which have caused ail barges to be stranded short of th eir destinations, do not affect natural g w . Fortunately, natural g w is distributed by a pipeline system largely unaffected by adverse «reatber conditions. In addition, natural g w b regulated by the Federal USE Scmler Easy C R O IT TO OBTAIN NEW MODERN GLASSES P ro m p t S ervice 4' «« ti a im E y e E x o m i n o tio n NO APPOIN1U1NT Ml fOfD ■■A— 4 hi.w.i. I— O to«* ?S-DN> FREE T r f ! r a t it » * FHf Parking Camp Fire »LU U T (Continued from p .l eolJ) hey arnx THKT Y our Y ou know who V /A S 'WHO GtOT OUT OF c kb j u s t now ? YEAH 5 ID .1 I T W A S lM f| GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF C A U F O R N lA l B U T D O N ’T a i G O T H IS F A R E IN A D V A N C E 1. W O R R Y - w ■ Continued from page 1 col. ft) as he walked toward the interviewing room he was attacked by McDade and after he was farced to the Boor McDade held the balloon of heroin in front of his face. Another officer said to him. "We knew we would find a way to get you. You can fool the social workers but not vae ** In hts opening statement Wilsons attorney, Des Connell, pointed out that anyone entering the jail ia liable to be searched at any time and that Wilson s iam iharity with the police system and the drug trafic would have prevented his taking such a risk. ■ Continued from page 1 col. 2) other job seekers. Over half the employ ers said they would give preference to college trained applicants and that they would hire them for jobs previously held by workers w ith less education. Bill Stevenson, Commissioner of Labor, cautioned against assuming th a t a college degree would ensure employment. "Pe ople w ith vnratkmsl and technical train ing will continue to find employment sppnrtsaitiss. O sr study thai work attitude and motivation was eon- «■derod the most important job qualifies tfon by employers of derical. sale skilled and unskilled workers." He noted that one third at the ■ era thought that college were more highly motivated. «rho hire eraftsmen listed technical akilb and then motivation w the moot im port ant qualifications. Employers «rho hire professioiMb and technicians eked «rock motivation as the th ird moat important q u a lific a tiw u , fwuwH’io g p f u in a iw u a l/' technical competence and the ability to communicate Peyton Award (Continued from page 1 col. 6) a Prince Hall Mason a m ember of Phi Bela Sigma fra tern ity He is a former board member of the North Branch Y M C A and the Albina M inisterial A l liance Awards include those from the U . 8. Naval Recruting Command (district and national). Albina Women’s League, Al- Persons wishing to contribute time or money to the Babe Wilson Defense Fund can call 283-2487. OPTOMETRISTS • mm * w a c w E c a e ro rA i.e m ra e m rn IM sise S S.W . 3 rd A MOftBISOM T to . Dr. Larry SEM LEB-D r. M. KELLY Dr. ft. HULL - Dr. J. BEftftY : Dr. N. Eug. Dr. H. W ebb, Dr.ft.1 Fire. Job outlook Babe Wilson Namanu. W e filled a bus full «rith kids, some of whom had never had a chance to explore the woods. I t was groat fun. but we couldn't have done it «rithout the help at many parents and several community groups." “There a re a le t of g irb «rho «rant to belong to Camp F ire , but before they can join , more adults are needed to help. W e need people «rho want to see th eir children grow . . . and grow «roll. in Camp bina L ira's Club. Black Cultural Affairs Board of PSU, Portland Metropolitan Steering Committee. H e w w A lum ni o f the Year. 1*74. of Paul Quinn College. Henderson is currently pastor at St Paul African Methodist Church in Berk eiey, California. He is the father of tw o daughters, Cheri and Roeyln P art of the reason Camp F ire has been g rav in g in our community is the rapport it has received from institutional spon sots , like the P irtfo o d Observer and several private individuab. who help pay fo r the membership dues of those g irb «rho can't afford them. "M any resources arc available to the girL« ex p la in ed Ms W hite The girls selling candy can earn eampshipo (paid fora) to our camps, as well as earning money for th e ir own group. There are also many other sources to help a g irl go t o su m m er camp. A lack of money should r a t keep a g irl from joining Camp F ire. " I really w ant to talk w ith people about Camp F ire. I f an adult wants to volunteer to help these kids; it a parent or a g irl just «rants to find out more about Gamp F ire , they should cad me at 224-7800. "M eanwhile." urges Ms. W hite, "when a Camp F ire g irl comes to your door, buy a box of candy. I t ready tastes good . . . and it's helping a lot of kids." Notice Sportsman L ittle League «rid begin its fund drive selling dinners Saturday from noon until . . . The dinners, including Gumbo for 12.50, «rid be available at Imm aculate H e art Church on W illiams aad Stanton. Ortstaidiig for 1976 Cal Ta OWstaadtog sales asseriate ■ for the To get outstanding service in selling your home, or in buying a differen t one, coll Cal or Bob. They do they jobl Still serving the community AS THE HOME FOLKS FOR f. 6. Stassens, Inc. Realtors Hollywood Office 288-887F 1st Place Portland O bserver ammarai y Service ONPA 1*73 $2.50 of your new subscription to The Portland Observer will go to the Published ev eiy Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North Kiliingsworth, Portland. Oregon *7217 M ailing address: P .0 . Box 8137, Portland. Oregon *7208. Telephone 283 2486 Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the T n C o u n ty area. $8.00 per year outside Portland. ALFREDL HENDERSON The Portland Ohoervers official position b expressed only in its Publisher s coiumn (W e See The World Through Black Eyes). Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual «vriter or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portia» Herrick Edbsrfol Award NNA 1*73 Oregon Black History Project Tri-County $7.50 other oreos $8.00 M l Mail »o; Por’lond Observer P O Box 3137 Portland, Oregon 97208 York memm Oregon I Newspaper Publisher» Association AJPRLR/VMI N e I I p A p ER C ity
